Probably everyone has heard of the "me too" movement where women share stories of being sexually assaulted. And it's obviously really good to see people showing support and solidarity and all that good stuff.
However, something didn't sit quite right with me. Not with the people sharing the stories; they're totally within their rights. I just resent the implication that pushy and coercive behavior is "normal" from men and that society shouldn't expect anything different.
Cuz let me say, I've done a non-zero amount of dating in the last five years and I've known a whole lot of "average" guys and "socially awkward and clueless guys" and even some kind of self-centered guys. And SOMEHOW all of them seemed to have to trouble hearing my "no" the first time. Even before the first time. I've seriously never been on a date with someone who didn't want me to feel comfortable as their first priority.
It's not like I've been dating saints on earth here. Pretty normal dudes.
Am I just some super savvy, super assertive Wonder Woman? Hahahahahaha no.
Hahahahaha
Do I have super intuition in social situations? Hahahahahaha no. I've invited people over I didn't know that well and gone over to people's places that I didn't know super well.
Now, I do have a knack for picking out shy nerdy dudes who far from wanting to put some "moves" on a girl, far prefer to know a girl is into them.
Maybe I just have a magical field protecting me? I don't get cat-called either. Now, being straight up and down might have something to do with that. But still. I go outside. In the city, even. While female. And people call after me "Have a nice day, young lady!" or "I love your hair!"
Wow. I dunno, maybe people have the capability to behave like actual people.
So that's why I don't buy any stories that try to tell me that it's unreasonable to expect men to treat women with a basic level of decency. Because I've seen it. I've been respected by all types of men of different ages, cultures, and levels of relationship to me.
Don't show me a horse and tell me it's a unicorn. Or, fine. Unicorns are running free in herds across the continent and you just don't want to admit it because it means admitting you're just an ugly donkey.
